The little guy isn't even here yet and he's already worthy of a post! The fact is, I've been doing SO much research for this birth compared to our previous pregnancies. To put things in perspective, this is how I decided on my ob/gyn for Jared:
"Who can see me on Wednesdays? I can only come on Wednesday afternoons."
"That would be Dr. XX at 3:20pm."
"Great. I can be there."
Dr. XX was the only doctor in the practice I did NOT care for. But he was available when I needed an appointment, so he was my doctor for the pregnancy. He was the same doctor who stripped my membranes without asking or so much mentioning it, then explaining later that he "felt bad" for me, which shows that when you are a pregnant woman, and you have a sense about a person, you should trust yourself. It also shows my complete ignorance. Why in the world didn't I look for a different practice? I have no idea- it never even occurred to me because I just didn't question doctors. Period.
So, in choosing a midwife this time, I was a lot more picky. I checked forums online for comments people had made, I checked review sites, I followed up on organizations to make sure she was a member as she had said, and I asked for references to contact and I made sure she was a Christian. That took a lot more time than verifying an appointment schedule.
Here's the amazing part of the story so far.
I wasn't sure about a doula, what a doula did or why we needed one. I did, however, know how much they cost and knew it wasn't likely for us to be able to afford one. A friend from high school who lives in California recommended a national website that has a database of doulas. There was 1 doula in our area that had a link to her blog. Her blog didn't say anything about her doula services, but it did have this comment on the side in her About Me section: And the whole world in love with Jesus Christ. Perfection personified. That at least showed me she was definitely a Christian, so I emailed her, just to see how much she was and if she would even be available. I was honest about my desire to not spend much and my desire for strong Christian women to surround me during birth. She wrote back and told me that she followed Christ Centered Childbirth (a method I had never heard of, but loved the sound of ), her cost was MUCH more reasonable than others, and that her husband was the pastor at Watermarke. I about fell over. That is the church we go to. I immediately called Larry, my mom AND my sister, trying to get in touch with anyone I could. I don't believe in coincidences, but I do believe in answered prayer. And this was it.
I contacted a few references from the doula, just to see what the experience was like. I knew that one had decided on a home birth for her upcoming baby, but I didn't think much about it until after our hospital tour when I started to rethink the homebirth. Like I said before, I had 100% expected to love the hospital, and that is not at all how I felt. I contacted her again and asked who her midwife was. I told her I had interviewed one midwife at the beginning of my pregnancy, but we decided not to go the route of homebirth. I told her I would love to see someone that a friend was already using and could recommend. She wrote me back and explained that a friend had recommended someone very highly that she was using- and it was the same person I had interviewed.
We went back for a second consultation with the homebirth midwife- this time with Larry present. We asked for references and she gave me the name and number of a client that had used her twice already and was planning her third homebirth. I called her last night and was amazed. She had her first baby at the exact hospital that we were considering for Grayson. It gave me a perfect opportunity to ask what the experience was like. Her birth was fine, but after was when the problems occurred. That has always been my issue, so it really helped confirm for me that this is the right decision. The more we spoke the more we realized we had in common- she doesn't use bc, she and her husband were insprired by Voddie, she used to attend our church, etc. We're setting up a play date soon.
I don't think I've ever prayed so hard about making the right decision. I even pray before I read the birthing books and ask that God help me to see and recognize what He wants for our lives. I also don't think our prayers have ever been answered so clearly.
Oh, and another crazy happening... one night I was going to bed and decided to check a pregnancy forum. I never read the Atlanta one, but I decided to that night. There was a post for a free maternity photo session for the first 3 people who emailed her. I checked her website to verify she was a real photographer, then emailed her. I was the first to respond :) After talking back and forth we found out that she attends our church and is a fan of Dave Ramsey. I felt so comfortable with her and it truly was an answer to our prayers. I have been looking in postpartum depression a lot since I got pregnant this time. The fact is, if I continue to suffer PPD after each child, we would not be able to continue having children. A lot of people don't think about this, but it's not just the mother who has to deal with it- her husband and children suffer as well. The pictures were a great way for Grayson's pregnancy to be different. I've never had these pictures done before and it made me feel good about myself, it was a great way to celebrate Grayson, and it helped me make a new friend :)
So, I have to say, this pregnancy and this summer have been incredible. I can't help but think, with all the ways Grayson is already bringing us closer to God, (and bringing new women with the same philosophies on Christ, children, and parenting) what is he possibly going to be able to accomplish once he is actually with us? It gives me such hope :)
No comments:
Post a Comment